bamnutsak

AFAIK smoking cannabis in public remains illegal. Of course, not all laws are enforced here. You should probably file a police report if you feel like you've been a victim. I live quite close to an entertainment area, with dozens of cannabis shops. I've noticed cannabis odors maybe three times in the ~ three years since decriminalization. Obviously, the air quality is a much more serious health problem.

Do you know how these are being sent? email? Thai Post? notification/link from mobile app? Was there a cover letter detailing the requirements, process, and timeframes?

Give it go, then share a review.

FYI...

Effective 1/1/19 Announced 10/26/2018 Affidavits were honored for six months, and Immigration allowed fewer than 12 months for the 65k route. <I think>. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-in-thailand-to-cease-providing-income-affidavit/

I think you can probably gain an appointment for an in-person adult passport renewal, and keep your current passport, provided you can prove your case for travel within the "up to six to eight week" stated timeframe (yes, it is less than that now based on first-hand reports). People who claim to have done this (see reddit) say they got their new passport in 2 - 3 weeks. Not sure if you have to return to pick up the new passport and get the old one canceled (holes punched, stamped CANCELED)? https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/acsappointment/ Make an appointment Passport services other than adding pages.

Who, rather than what... Who is Alexander Vinnik, the Russian prisoner being traded for American Marc Fogel? Feb 12 (Reuters) - The United States will release Russian Alexander Vinnik, a suspected cybercrime kingpin, as part of an exchange with Russia that freed Marc Fogel, a U.S. official said on Wednesday. Vinnik operated BTC-e, once one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. He was arrested in 2017 in a small beachside village in northern Greece and detained at Washington's request on suspicion of laundering $4 billion through the exchange. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/who-is-alexander-vinnik-russian-prisoner-being-traded-american-marc-fogel-2025-02-12/

Meh. For most of those mentioned... "middle class seniors" the bulk of their benefit is already not taxable. https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/social_security_benefits_worksheet_1040i.pdf

Yes, for some, assuming they have not been making monthly transfers, this will be an issue given the April 1 date + 6 months. So those with renewal dates after September 2025 may be hosed.

Musk famously said that he wanted to die on Mars... just not on impact.

I want to see all the 150-year-old Americans Elon claims are receiving SocSec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq3tK7c9Uoo "Let that sink in." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDxUfpQ1wQ

How did you arrive at this ARP?

649 for twelve (12), on flash sale from the official Gillette store, now. Price goes as low as 637.

Again, not in my experience (IME). If YOU do, then it seems obvious, you can apply for a re-entry permit when you have your passport in hand with the new extension.

IME, ext stay/ret, the new extension is granted within an hour of being applied for, after which one can apply for a re-entry permit. It's not like there is a period of being "under consideration", again IME at CW. So, Yes.

In the event that we want to identify assistance for another American in need, how do we locate and refer these trained volunteers? I've searched for more detail but came up empty, again other than the one-day "outreach programs.

Yes. (And that seems to be the consensus, at least 65/35, based on my vague assessment of posts on these threads.) Not sure how any interest earned on this "savings" in subsequent years (2024, 1025...) would be treated - year-by-year or after the initial savings are exhausted? So having a 12/31/23 year-end statement would be a good thing to hang onto. That might get used for 10 ~ 20 years?

In the current case he's from the (in)famous Buriram Chidchob clan. His brother, Saksayam, was the Minister of Transportation. He got himself into a spot of bother... Saksayam found guilty of violating law, handing govt projects to his own company https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40034784

Can you share any details on this person? Is this an official State Department employee? Or a good samaritan acting in some sort of unofficial capacity? Are there many of these in Thailand? I've never heard of such a thing, other than the one-day outreach efforts. I'd do this if only to see if it is still valid.

The OP is already in the system... ...and... ...so maybe no real downside to filing to get 2,000?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-orders-plan-for-a-united-states-sovereign-wealth-fund/

There's not enough room for Elon's 'family', one of his baby mommas just gave birth to child number 13. Now I understand why he uses Roman numerals for names.

Time to send out for help from North Korea. Thai Minister of Education was ridiculed mercilessly on social media. Thai minister praises North Korean education system Thailand's education minister has praised North Korea's school system for its "discipline and patriotism," and asked the international pariah for help in creating a similar environment for the kingdom's students. The remarks made last month came to light after a statement from a meeting between Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob and the North Korean ambassador was circulated among Thai media. Permpoon praised North Korea's schooling system, saying Bangkok sought "educational support to discipline children with patriotism and respect for country leaders." https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/02/103_368391.html an older article where DPRK's education system is the envy of Thailand... Thai Education Minister: Thai education resembles North Korea The Education Minister and the North Korean Ambassador to Thailand mutually agreed that the education systems of both countries are rather similar and plan to develop ties by educational exchanges. The two agreed that the educational systems of both countries are similar. The similar elements include free 12-year basic education. Moreover, a few students from North Korea come to Thailand to study. The Thai Education Minister proposed that the Ministry will talk with Thai universities with a view to an exchange programme with North Korean universities. https://prachataienglish.com/node/4495

How was this communicated? email? SMS? Message within SCBEasy app?